Somalia Urges Stronger Regional Preparedness for El Niño Risks

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia has called for stronger coordination and preparedness at the regional and district levels as the country braces for climate-related hazards and the expected impact of El Niño in 2026.

The call was made at a high-level meeting in Mogadishu chaired by Mahmoud Moalim Abdulle, head of Somalia’s Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), and attended by representatives of the federal government, state-level relief ministers, the United Nations, international and local aid organisations and other humanitarian partners.

The meeting focused on strengthening support for Somalia’s federal member states, particularly mechanisms for coordination at state and district levels, early warning systems, preparedness and responses to climate-related emergencies.

Participants stressed the need to strengthen coordination mechanisms within the federal member states so that early warnings could be translated into rapid action and resources, humanitarian assistance and other support could reach vulnerable communities on time.